Electrohydraulic speed-governing device for power transmission.



A. SUEDE. BLEOTEOHYDRAULIC SPEED (50? amuse mavzc FOR POWER' TRAHSMISSION.

' APPLIUATIDX YELED SLPT. 16, 1909. 1,01 1,269, Patented Dec. 1.2,-1911.

2 3EEETBSHEET 1.

A. SUNDH. v

ELECTROHYDRAULIU SPEED GOVERHING DEVICE FOR POWER TRANSMISSION.

' APBLIGATIOHIILBD SEPT. 16, 1909. v 1,01 1,269. Patented Dec. 12,1911.

SHEET 2.

2 SHEET img limb teases L Hozn 'LUGUST SUNDE, or YGNKERS, NEW YORK.

ELECTROHYDBAULZC SPEED-GOVERNiNG DEVICE FUR POWER TRANSMISSION.

To all whom it concern: Be it known that I,- Acensr SUEDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the. countyof Westchester and -State 01" New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrohydraulio Speed-Governing Devices for Power-Transmission, of which the following is a specification. i I 1Q Thepresent invention re ates to mechanism for transmitting power by means of a fluid pressure and in which a plurality of pumps and-a plurality of motors, adapted to be operated by fluid pressure supplied from the pumps, are interposed between a prime mover, or other suita lc source 02 power, and the mechanism to be driven.

The invention also comprises elect-ro-magnet-icclutch mechanism and valve mechanism for varying the operative relation or the pumps and motors whereby the speed and torque of the driven mechanism mayv be varied as desired.

The exact nature of the invention and the objects sought to be attained will appear more fully hcre.nafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a part sectional elevation view of a construction embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view of one of the pumps as indicated by the section line of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a similar view'of one of the motors as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.' Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing some of the elastic-magnetic clutches; Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed views of gearing between the reversing clutch and the driven mechanism as indicated by the lines 5-5 and (i-(3, respectively, of Fig. 1. 'Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical controlling devices and system of circuits. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the connecting passages between the pumps and motors. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a modified form of pump.

The general arrangement of the mechanism as herein shown comprises a prime mover A having a drive shaft 1, and the plurality of pumps P, P, P and P adapted to be connected to the drive shaft by means of electro-magnets a, b, c and d. A plurality of motors, M. M, M and M operable by means of fluid pressure supplied by the pumps, are adapted to be connected to a Specification of Letters Patent.

9, h and z. A reversing clutch k controls the direction of motion transmitted from the shaft- 53 to the mechanism to b driven. Electric current for energizing the clutch mag nets and valve magnets controlling the motors, is supplied from a storage battery S, a generator G, or any other suitable source of currentsupply. The power to be transmitted may be supplied from any suitable engine, motor, or other source of supply deending largely upon the particular use to which the transmission i'ncchanism is to be put. As shown, a gas engine A, adapted to run continuously in one direction and at a substantially constant speed, is employed.

The pumps P, P, P and P as shown,-

are substantially alike in construction so that a description of one will suliice or all. The pump 1 for example. comprises a casing 3 containing interinesl'iirigv pump gears l and The gear 4 is keyed to the hub of a clutch member 6, the latter being loosely mounted on the shaft. 1 of the engine A.

The gear 5 is keyed to a stud shaft '7, journaled in the pump cas ng 3. The pumps and the motors are mounted on a base B which may be made of a single casting and compr es a plurality of channels or chambers 10. 1.1, 12 and 13. The supply chamber 10 tom-eats with the intake sides of the pumps through passages 14 and the pressure side of the pump in connection with the pressure chan'mer 11 through passages 15. The

pressure chamber 11, is connected through a diagonal passage 16 with the pressure chain ber 1-2 for the motors. The latter exhaust into the exhaust chamber 13 which is connected through the passage 17 with the sup-- p y chamber 10. Each pump is provided with a check valve 18 which permits a free flow of liquid from the supply chamber 10 to the pump but prevents a flow of liquid through the. pump in the reverse direction.

Each of the clutches, a. 6,6 and d comprises a clutch member 6 loose on the drive shaft and a member 20 keyed to the drive shaft. These members are made of magnctic material and the member 20 contains a magnet coil 21, One of the clutch members, preferably the member this adapted to have a slight movement longitudinally of the. drive shaft so that it may be l'r'ought into and out of contact with the'c-lutch mem- 110' Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

Application filed September 16, 1909. Serial Ho. 517,981.

.driVenshaft-Q in alinemcnt with drive shaft 1 by means of electromagnetic clutches f,

ber 20. The clutch member 6 is formed with gear teeth meshing with gear teeth formed on a gear wheel 22 keyed to the stud shaft f.

The motors M, M, M and M are similar in construction to the pumps, and as shown, each comprises the casing 3 containing pump gears 4 and 5'. The'gear at is keyed to the hub of a clutch member (3 loosel? mounted on the driven shaft 2. T he gear 5' is keyed to a stud shaft; 7 to which 16 also secured the gee-r22, meshing with gear teeth formed on the clutch member (3. The clutches f, g, It and 2' each comprises a member 6 loose on the shaft 2, a member 20 keyed to the shaft and a magnet coil 21 carried by the member 20. I

Electro-magnets E, E, E and E associated with the motors M, M, M and M respectively, are adapted to operate valves V, controlling the circulation of liquid through the motors. As shown in Fig. 3, the magnet E comprises a casing 25 secured tr the pump casing and containing a mag- ;et coil 26. The core 27 of the magnet is connected with the stem of the valve V. The latter is held in its raised osition when the electro-magnet is energized and permits a flow of liquid from the supply chamber 12 through a passage 28 and a port 29 to the pressure side of the motor gearr. When the magnet E is deenergized, a spring 30,

together with the weight of the magnetcore.

and valve moves the latter downward into position to close the port 29 and cut off the supply of liouid to the motor. The ralve V is preferably provided with an opening 31, extendin longitudinally through the. valve to' equalize the pressure at opposite ends of the valve. It will be seen that the valve is balanced so that but little power is required to operate the same.

The clutch 6 comprises clutch members 312 and 33 keyedto the shafts 1 and 2 respectively and the member 33 is provided with a magnet coil 34 adapted when energized to connect the clutch members and thereby connect the shafts 1 and 2 so that the shaft 2 is rotated independently. of the fluid transmission mechanism, as'fully ec t forth hereinafter.

The-reversing clutch is comprises an inner clutch member 35 keyed to the shaft 2 and carrying magnetic coils 36 and 37. The outer clutch members 38 and 39 lo0sel mounted on shaft 2 are adapted to be connected to the member 35 whcn the magnetic coils and 37 respectively, are energized. Keyed to clutch member 38 (see Fig. 5) is a gear wheel 40 meshing with a pinion 41. keyed to a shaft Secured to the clutch member 39 is a gear wheel 43 connected by. means of a sprorkct chain 4- with a sprocket inion 45 also keyed to the shaft 42. Thd 2 atter is connected through a belt. :lii and counter-shaft 47 or other suitable gearing.

connection will erl'cct a to the mechanism to be driven. It' will be observed that when the reversing clutch member 39 is rotated, the sprocket chain rotation of. the shaft 42 in the same direction. but when the clutch member 38 is rotated, the gears 40 and 41 will serve to rotate the shaft 42 in the reverse direction. The direction in which the shaft 4;? is rotated will therefore depend on which of the reversing clutch coils is energized.

The power transmitting fluid employed may be either water, oil or some other liqhid: a light oil, however, is usually preferred as it serves to keep the mechanism well lubricated, does not evaporate, does not freeze in cold weather and is a good electrical insulator.

The source of current supplied for the iarious elect-ro-niagne s will depend largely upon local conditions and the uses to which the invention is to be put. I have herein shown a storage battery 5 which may be connected through a double pole switch S to the magnet circuits. A shunt wound gem erator G is also shown. This generator may be mounted on the base 15 and geared to the shaft 1 of the engine- ;r so that substantially constant potential will be maintained at the brushes while the gas engine is operating.

The operation of the various electro-magnets is t'zontrolled by means of a manual controller K. This controller comprises a lever 50 made of insulating material rotatable about a pivot 51. 'lhe'lever 50 carries an arc-shaped contact strip 52 adapted to en gage a series of stationary contacts. The upper end of the contact strip 52, where it is connected to the lever 50, is extended into position to maintain aconstant sliding conncction with a stationary contact strip 53. The end portion of the contact. strip 52 is also adapted to he brought into engagen'icnt with contact strips 54, 55 and 5G.

The shafts 1 and 2 as shown in Fig. 4 are hollow and contain the conductors leading from the terminals of the arious clutch magnet coils. These conductors are connected to collector rings 57 mounted on bushes 58. secured to the shafts 1 and 2. Brushes 5t) bear against these collector rings and are connected to tln onductors leading to the controller K. Three conductors are preferably inclosed in conduits 60.

The operation of my invention will he understood from the-following description: Assuming: the various parts o be in the posilions shown. and that the prime mover A is :rumtingnt a substantially constant speed, the drive shaft 1 will rotate independently oil the pumps, the latter. together \vitlrthe motors. being at rest. The generator (1: at

this time supplies current to the electromagncts E, l), E l) and'thc clutches f, g, It and d. '1 he circuit through the magnet E andelutch 7' may be traced as follows: from the positi e brush to conductor 61, switch S, positive conductor (32, conductor 63, coil ofmapnet E, coil :31 of clutch magnet 1, conductor 6, contacts (35 and to the negative conductor 66 and from thence to the other brush 6?. The circuits for the electroanagnets E. E and E and the clutches 1 i1. and i, may in like manner be traced from the positive wire (52 by way of the stationary controller contacts 68,-69 and to the negative wire 66. The valve magnets, being energized, will hold the valves V in their open position as shown in F lg. 23, and the motor clutches f, g, h and '11 being energized, the motors will be connected to the driven shaft 2. If the wn-.

troller lever 50 be now moved to the right for example, the contact 52 will first engage the contact strip 55 and thereby establish a circuit through magnet coil 36 of the reversing clutch Ir. This circuit may be traced from the positi e conductor 62 through conductor 71, magnet coil 36, conductor 72, contacts 55, 52 and 53 to the negative conductor 66. The coil 36 will therefore receive current and the clutch members 35 and 36 will be connected so that any rotation of the shaft 2 will be transmitted through the gems 40 and 41 to the shaft 42 and from thence to the'driven mechanism. A con tinued movement of the controller lever will next engage the. lower end or the contact strip 52 with a stationary contact 73. This closes a circuit through the winding of the pump clutch a, which circuit'maybe traced from the positive conductor 62 through conductorsW and 78, coil 21 of clutch a, con ductor 79. contacts 73, 52 and 53 to the negative conductor 66. The clutch a' being op erated connects the pump gear-4 tor rotation with the drive shaft 1. The upper pump gear 5 is also positively rotated through the gears 6 and 22. The pump P is therefore driven from the prime mover, the pump gears rotating in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2: liquid is therefore drawn from the supply chamber 10 through the passage 14 into the pump casing and carried by the pump gears to the pressure side of the pump, and from thence the liquid isforced into the pressure chamher 11 and through the passage 16 to the supply chamber 12 for the motors. From the chamber 12 the liquid is forced through the four motors M, M, M and M, in parallel driving said-mot'orsaud thereby rotating the driven shaft 2. Theliquid from the exhaust side of the motors passes into the chamber 13 and from thence through the channel 17 to the supply chamber 10, therehy completing" the circulation of the liquid. The motion of the sliaft 2 is transmitted to. the driven mechanism as before noted. As the liquid from the pump P is divided between the four motors, the speed of the "latter will he correspondingly slow. It will be further observed that the gear teeth on the motor gears are-much larger than lllttm on the pump gears so that the speed of each motor will be much less than that of a. pump with a given volume of liquid circulating therctldbugh. The pumpsandmotors are so proportioned that it requires about four times as much liquid circulating through a motor to maintain a given speed as is circulated through a pump when the latter driven at said speed. It will thus be seen that when the pump P is operatinc alone, the speed of the shaft 2 will be filJnUb 1/16 that of the drive shaft. As the movement of the controller lever is continued, the contact strip 52 next engages the stationary contact 74 and closes a circuit through the magnet winding of the clutch b so that the latter is operated to connect the pump P to the drive shaft. The pumps P and P will now operate. together and increase the volume of liquid circulated.

tinued. the contact 52 successively engages the contacts and '76, thereby-operating :the' clutches c and (I. connecting the pumps P and P to the drive shaft and effecting a corresponding increase in the speed of the driven mechanism. A further rotation-of the controller lever moves thecontact 5:? off from the stationary contact-70 and opens the circuit through the windings of the valve magnet E and the inotorcluteh The. clutch 2' being det uergized disconnects the motor E irom the driven shaft 2. valve Y of the motor M is at. the same time dropped and closes the port 1-39 of said motor, thereby cutting oil the circulation of liquid through the motor. The liquid from the pumps is now forced to circulate through the three motors ELM and M which results in a corresponding increase in the speed of the driven shaft. movement of the controller lever in like manner open: the circuits for the magnets E and E and the clutch magnets 11 and g at the contacts 69 and (38, thereby disconnecting the motors M and M from the driven shaft with a corresponding increase of the speed of the driven mechanism. The four pumps are now operating in parallel to force the liquid through the motor M and as thecapacity of the latter is substantially equal to that of the four pumps. the-speed of the shaft 2 will be substantially. that of the drive shaft 1. The continued movement of the'controller lever 50 brings the contact 59. into engagement with the stationary contact 56, therebycompleting a circuit through the winding 34 of the clutch e. This circuit is by way of conductors 62 and 77,

The i The continued therefore operated to connect the shatts 1 and 2 independently of the fluid transmission mechanism. At snhstantiallv the sum time or directl} after the clutch (5 1s oper ated, the controller contact 52 moves oil from the contacts 73, 74:, T5 and 76 s' nuh tanconslv; these contacts heing now in a recess 9t). formed in the contact strip The pump clutches a. b, 0 and (I will therefore he opened and release the pumps from the drive. shaft. Atthe same time or directly after the pumps are thus discom'ieetcd from the drive shaft. the contact 5-2 nh'n'os off the contact (35, thus opening the circuit through the magnet l: and clutch f {or the motor M. The latter is ther:;-l'ore filSi llnectcd from the driven shalt and its Y V closcdl therehv cutting otl' all cir ula of the liquid through the motors.

pumps and the. motors are therefore all brought to rest and the power is transmitted dircrtlv from the drive shaft thrmuzh'thc clutch c to the shaft 2 and from thence tlut'ntgzh the reversing clutch to the driveir mechanism. By moving the controller lev r hack toward its initial position. the pumps and the motors will again he brought into 5 operation aud'the speed of tho dri 'en mechanismpjrmlually redu ed. the various lutches living tun-rated in the reverse. order to that ahove. descrihed for a forward movement of tho ernitroller lever. it the lever 50 is moved to the left from its initial position. the contact. will first engage the contact strip 54 and omplete a cir uit through the ninding 3? of the reversing clutch. The latter will therefore connect the clutch member 339 to the shaft when the latter is op rated the power will he transixitted thro. he sprocket chain it and pinion 45 and shaft 42. The continued movement of the controller lever to the left will effect. operation of the remaining lut hts and the Talve magnets in the same order as when the controller lever is unwed to the right so that the sper'l of the driven mechanism will again be gradually accelcr ated.

Fig. 9 shows a modification of one of the pumps. The gears 4- am 5 this instance smaller but the gear teeth larg r than those shown in Fig. 2. The size of the pump casing is also correspoiuling ly reduced. The capacity of this pinup preterahlv hears thesamc relation to that of the motors as described in connection with that arrangement of parts'inight he made hythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

are in by tinid pressure supplie from the pumps,

:1 driving member, with: for JCCC- Sl\'el Y c-omiccthn the pumps to said inc-other, and

means. for cutting oil the circulat on of liquid through said motors, in succession.

The combination with a plurality of pumps, or" a plurality of motors, a driving member, means for successively connecting the pumps to the driving member, means for circulating the liquid from the pumps through the motors in parallel and means or cutting off the circulation of the liquid through the motors in succession.

1- The comhinatirm *ith a plurality of pumps, of a series of motors, a driving member, means or connecting the pumps to the drhing nu-Inhcr in succession, passages for circulating liquid from the. pumps through the motors, a driven member to which the motors are initially connected, means for succc 'vely d'tconnccting the motors from the dr ic-n member alter the pumps have been connected to the driving member, and means for cutting oil' the circulati n of liqaid through the motor-511s they are disconnected from the driven memhen.

4. The combina ion with a drive shaft. and the driven shaft, of a plurality of pumps initially disconnected from the drive shaft: and a plurality of motors initially connected to the til'lt'ill shaft, means for com net'tii'tg the pumps to the drive shaft. in succe sion. means for circulating liquid from the pumps through the motors in parallel as the pumps are operated, means for succ brlY fly disconnecting the motors from the driven shaft, and means for cut ting oil the c rculation of liquid through said motors as they are disconnected.

The eomhination with a series of pumps, of a series of motors, a supply chamber communicating with the intake Sld$ of the pumps. a pressure ch ".inher hav in communication with the pressure sides of the pumps and motors. an exhaust chamher for the motors in communication with said suppl chamber for the pumps, :1 driv ing memhcr. means for successively connecting the pumps to the driving); member for operation and thereby circulating a liquid through the motors in parallel to operate the latter, and means for cutting off the circulation of liquid through the. motors in succession.

6. The combination with a drive shaft, of a plurality of pumps, clutches bet-ween said shaft and pumps, means for operating the clutchcsin succes on and connecting the lad passages for a circulation of a fluid through the pumps and motors, and meansto 0perate said last named clutches in succession, to disconnect the motors from the driven shaft after the pumps have been connected to the drive shaft.

7. The combination with a driving member and a driven member, of a plurality of motors operatably connected to the driven member, a plurality of pumps, controlling mechanism operable to connect the pumps in succession to the driving member and then to successively disconnect a numter of said motors from the driven member 211 succes sion, means for conveying liquid from the pumps to the motors and from latter back to the pumps, and a device for connecting said members for operation independently of. the pumps and the'motors.

8. The combination with a-drive and a driven shalt in alinement, a series of pumps, :1 seriespf motors operable by fluid supplied from the pumps, means for soccessively connecting the pumps to the drive shaft and thereby operating the motors at a gradually increasing speed, deviccs initially connecting the motors to the driven shaft, means for successively operating said devices to disconnect the motors from the driven shaft, means for preventing the circulation of liquid through the motors that are disconnected from the driven shaft, a

clutch b tween said shafts and means for operating the clutch to connect the shafts independently ofthe pumps and motors when said shafts are rotating at a predetermined relative speed.

9. T he combination of a drive shaft and a driven shaft in alinement, a lurality of pumps, clutches between the pumps and the drive shaft, a plurality of motors, clutches between the motors and the driven shaft a clutch between said shafts, and means for successively operating the clutches between the pumps and drive shaft and then successively operating the clutches between the motors and driven shaft and finally operating the c utch between said shaf s 1Q. The combination with a d iven member, of a plurality of motors operable by liquid under pressure, a clutch between each motor and said driven member, a valve connected with each motor and movable into and out of position to cut, off the circulation of liquid through the motor, means for supplying liquid under pressure to operate the motors, devices'for successively operating said clutches, and means for operating each valve substantially simultaneously with the operation of the corresponding clutch.

11. The combination with a plurality of liquid motors, of means foi circuiating liq uid under pressure through the motors to operate the same, a driven member, clutches connecting the motors with the driven memmovable into position to cut off he circulation of liquid through the niol rs, means for operating the clutches in succession to disconnect the motors, and means ior operating ihe valves to check the circulation of liquid through each motor as it is disconnected from said shaft.

12. The combination \vitha liquid motor, of a driven member. a clutch between the motor and said member, means for supplying; liquid under pressure to the motor. a valve. means for operating the clutch to disconnect the motor from said (lriven'nicmber and meanscooperating with the clutch operating means for operating the valve into position to check the circulation of liquid through the motor whenever the latte is disconnected from the driven member.

l3.' The combination with a driving member and a driven member in alinen'sent, of a plurality of pumps. a plurality of motors operable by fluid supplied from the pumps, each of said motors having a capacity substantiall equal to the capacity of the-pumps combined, clutches normally connecting the motors to the driven member, clutches be- I tween the pumps and the driving member, means for operating! said last named'clntchcs in succession. and thereby gradually accelersting the motors, means for successively operating the first named clutches to disconnect all of said motors butone from the driven member and thereby accelerate the driven member to substantially the same speed as the driving member, a clutch between said members, means for operating said clutch when said members have been brought to substantially the same speed, and means for disconnecting all of the pumps and motors from said memb rs when the latter are directly connected through the clutch.

14. The combination with a driving member and a driven member, of a plurality of pumps initially disconnected from the dr ving member, a plurality of motors initially connected tothe driven member and each having a capacity substantially equal to the combined capacities of the pumps, means for connecting the pumps to the driving member in succession, means for then disconnecting all butone of said motors from the driven member in succession, means for then connecting said members for operation independently of the pumps and the motors, and means for then disconnecting the last motor from the driven member and also disconl'iecting the pumps from the driving member. 15. The combination with a drive shaftand a driven shaft, of a plurality of pumps, pump clutches between the pumps and drive shaft, a plurality of motors, motor clutches between said motors'and thedriven shaft, means for supplying current to the windings of sairi clulc? es and means for succi'rssirely operating the pump clutches to connectlhc i pumps to the drive shaftnucl then sucees sively operating the W010!" clutches in disconnect the. motors from the driven haft.

16. The combination of a (hive shuft. and a driven shaftin :ilincmcnl'. a plurality of pumps, a plurality of motors, e urtromagnrlic clutches lichrcuh the pumps and drive shaft, elcctro-nmgm tic clutches between the motors and the driven shaft, an elcctro-mugnetic clutch hetuwen said shafts, means for supplying current through the windings of the said clutches, :uui controller for the circuits of said windings and operable to slice/as rely connect th pumps to the drive shaft and then successively disconnect the moiors from the driven shaft, connect said shafts through the clutch between said shafts and then disconnect the Lumps rom the drive shaft.

17. Tue combination with u driven member, of a plurality of fluid motors, means for supplying fluid UllIiQI pressure to operate said motors, an electromagnetic clutch between each motor and said member. valve mechanism ussocinlecl with each motor and controlling the circulation of fluid therethrough, electro-muguels controlling the op eration of suid valve mechanism, said mug:- nets having their windings in circuit with magnet windings of the correspond ng clutches, and a controlling dc ice for effecting the successive operation of ihe cl te anrl valve magnets.

18. The combination with u drive shaft and a driven-shaft in alinement, of a clutch hetrvcensaid shafts, a plurality of pumps initially disconnected from the drive shaft, eleetro-nnignetio clutches between the pumps and drive shaft, a plurality of motors, electie-magnetic clutches initially. connecting the motors with the (haven shaft, electromngnets having their windings respectively in series w th the magnet windings of said last named clutches, valves operated by saitl magnets and controlling the circulation of liquid through the motors, and a controller opernhle to effect the operation of the clutches and valve magnets in a predeter mined order.

:9. The combination with a drive shaft and a driven shaft, of aplurality of pumps,

electromagnetic clutches between the pumps and (irive shaft, a plurality of motors operebleb fluid supplied from the pumps, electroensgnetic clutches between the motors and driven shaft, driven mechanism, electromagnetic reversing clutches between the elriven shaft and driven mechanism, a

vsource of currentsupply, and a controller be- 

